Europe News

The European Central Bank is entering the final stretch before announcing a new package of banking rule simplifications, with ECB President Christine Lagarde confirming that the long-awaited review of supervisory regulations has been completed and is set for publication in the coming days.   Speaking before the European Parliament, Lagarde revealed that “next Thursday, Vice President Luis de Guindos will present very specifically — I think there are 15 different areas for whi

Meta Platforms on Wednesday sharply criticised what it described as “aberrant” and excessively intrusive demands for information issued by EU antitrust regulators during two investigations launched four years ago, marking a new peak in corporate resistance to what many companies argue are disproportionate regulatory powers.     The company — which had earlier compared the European Commission’s data-gathering approach in the Facebook social network and online classified ads pr

Brussels is considering another round of restrictive actions aimed at those enabling Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” to move oil, as the bloc intensifies efforts to curb Moscow’s capacity to fund its war in Ukraine.   Sources say EU foreign ministers, gathering in Brussels on Thursday, will examine ways to boost cooperation with ship-registering nations in order to disrupt Russia’s methods for evading existing sanctions.   In a document circulated ahead of the meeting, Pola

VFS Global has cautioned UAE travellers against relying on the widespread belief that applying for a Schengen visa through smaller countries such as Luxembourg or Malta guarantees quicker approval.   According to Monaz Billimoria, VFS Global’s UAE Regional Director, this assumption is incorrect — and, in many cases, leads directly to visa refusals. Billimoria stressed that Schengen visa processing is governed by the EU Visa Code (Regulation 810/2009), which outlines a clear a

The European Union is preparing a new proposal to the United States aimed at advancing the next phase of the trade deal reached between the two sides earlier this summer, according to people familiar with the matter.   The plan, which has not yet been announced in the US, will center on five key areas, including the lowering of rates for additional products such as wines and spirits.   The initiative comes ahead of a meeting later this month between EU trade chief Maros Sefco

The European Commission has moved to further tighten visa procedures for Russian citizens, announcing the abolition of multiple-entry visas and the introduction of more rigorous checks across all EU member states.   The decision, which Brussels attributes to heightened security concerns linked to the ongoing war in Ukraine and the rise of “hybrid threats,” marks another escalation in the bloc’s response to Moscow’s continued aggression.   Executive Vice President Henna Virkun

As of October 23rd, 2025, Portugal has abruptly canceled all work-seeking visa appointments worldwide following the enactment of Law No. 61/2025, a sweeping reform that has transformed the country’s immigration landscape. Published in the Official Gazette on October 22nd, the law abolishes the popular job-seeking visa and replaces it with a new “highly skilled work-seeking visa” reserved for high-qualified professionals. However, the new visa category cannot yet be applied fo

Switzerland’s new system for processing Schengen short-stay visa applications in the United States is now fully operational, marking a...